Truck trial results in change of tyres
April 1st 2008 Shoreham Port Authority is
switching its forklift truck
fleet from solid to
pneumatic tyres following a
trial run in conjunction with
tyre solutions provider ATS
Euromaster.
One of the company's
Hyster 5.5 XM trucks was
fitted with Michelin XZM
radial tyres and monitored
against the performance of
solid tyres across the 20-
strong forklift fleet. The
Michelin tyres provided over
1000h of safe operation
before needing to be
replaced, doubling the
average life Shoreham Port
had become accustomed to
from solid tyres.
Commenting on the trial,
Ian Buchan, assistant
engineer for Shoreham Port
Authority, explains: "ATS
Euromaster's
recommendation to try the
Michelin XZM tyres has
really paid off, and pound
for pound, they have
demonstrated a cost-saving
over the solids.
"However, the biggest
benefit in terms of health and
safety is to our drivers,
ensuring better load
protection and resulting in
fewer shocks being
transmitted through the
driver's body, reducing fatigue
and back-ache."
As a result of the trial, ATS
Euromaster is actively
replacing worn solid tyres with
new Michelin XZM tyres as
wear dictates. All new Hyster
trucks supplied to Shoreham
Port Authority by Barloworld
will be delivered with Michelin
rubber as original equipment. | 
